Thermal Effects on coat thickness in wire-coating process

Abstract

Thermal effects on coat thickness t in the wire-coating process are investigated numerically, using viscous fluids of a Newtonian type as coating material and a finite element method. It is found that cooling the die reduces t, and vice-versa. This is thus opposite to the swelling behaviour of extrudate's thickness in extrusion through annular dies under comparable conditions. On the other hand, a cooled wire increases t, whereas a higher cooling rate of the coat's free surface also enhances t, but only very slightly. Also, induced pressure gradients correlate well with flow rate variation.